The supply of and demand for high-level STEM skills

This briefing paper (from UKCES) considers the supply of and demand for high-level science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills in England. It draws on detailed analysis of STEM skills supply, demand and mismatches, as well as key findings from the 2009 National Employer Skills Survey (NESS). It aims to add to the evidence base on high-level STEM skills and identifies a number of areas for further discussion.

STEM skills support research, innovation and high-tech manufacturing, and are seen as critical to the UK’s international competitiveness in these areas. Recent media coverage suggests that there is a problem with STEM skills: some employers report that they cannot recruit people of the calibre and with the skills they need, and that this is harming their businesses. However, other sources suggest that the supply of STEM skills is more than sufficient to meet demand, and that the focus needs to be on improving the ways in and extent to which these skills are used in the economy.

This paper sets out and analyses the evidence on the supply of and demand for high-level STEM skills, and argues that the picture is much healthier than often suggested. High-level STEM skills supply is broadly in line with demand, and by international standards the UK is holding its own. This is not to say that there are no challenges: in particular geographical areas, sub-sectors and industrial specialisms, we need to improve both the supply and use of skills.

Full document (PDF 24pp)

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